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Oct 16, 2025
NAACP NEW YORK STATE CONFERENCE KICKS OFF 89th ANNUAL CONVENTION WITH A BLACK POLICY ROUNDTABLE
The Power of Black Small Businesses
The Power of Black Small Businesses: A Call for Continuous Learning and Growth
As a small business owner, I have had the privilege of witnessing the incredible impact that black-owned small businesses can have on both local communities and the larger economy. In my years navigating the intricate landscape of entrepreneurship, I've come to appreciate the unique resilience and innovation that Black small business owners bring to the economic table. It's not just about transactions and bottom lines; it's about creating pathways for economic empowerment, narrowing disparities, and fostering a sense of community pride. I've seen how these businesses, driven by passion and a commitment to their communities, become beacons of hope and inspiration.
I’ve also observed far too many businesses who didn’t have the resources to adapt in times of crisis. Recessions and pandemics are hard on any business but I would argue even more so on Black and Brown businesses. Historically, these enterprises have navigated through economic downturns with remarkable resilience, despite facing disproportionately higher hurdles. The 2008 financial crisis and, more recently, the global pandemic have tested the mettle of Black and Brown entrepreneurs in unprecedented ways. Many of these businesses, often operating on thinner margins, faced heightened vulnerability, making it harder to weather the storm.
Growing Together means we as a community are making a concerted effort to learn and adapt to the ever evolving digital economy. Imagine a community where the warmth, charm, and character that define our people and our businesses extend seamlessly into the digital realm. Together, we will engage in dynamic brainstorming sessions, exploring creative ways to transcend physical boundaries and translate our unique narratives into the digital landscape. It's not merely about being sellers of products and services, it's about becoming masterful storytellers and digital merchants, weaving narratives that captivate and resonate with a global audience. This is how we do it:
Economic Empowerment Through Black Small Businesses
- First and foremost, Black-owned small businesses are not just economic entities, they are pillars of empowerment within our communities. By creating job opportunities, fostering entrepreneurship, and contributing to local economies, we as small business owners play a crucial role in narrowing economic disparities and promoting financial inclusion. As a society, we must recognize and celebrate the resilience and innovation that black small business owners bring to the economic landscape.
The Ripple Effect of Economic Inclusion
- Supporting Black small businesses goes beyond individual transactions. It creates a ripple effect that positively impacts the larger economy. When these businesses thrive, they hire locally, reinvest in their communities, and contribute to economic stability. By championing diversity and inclusion within the business sector, we pave the way for a more equitable and prosperous future.
The Importance of Continuous Learning for Business Owners
In the dynamic world of entrepreneurship, continuous learning is not just an option, it's a necessity. As a small business owner, staying informed about industry trends, technological advancements, and best practices is key to adapting and thriving in a competitive market. Embracing a mindset of lifelong learning positions business owners to make informed decisions that drive growth and innovation.
Fostering a Culture of Learning Among Employees
- The success of any business is deeply intertwined with the growth and development of its workforce. As business owners, it is our responsibility to create an environment that encourages employees to embrace continuous learning. We must provide opportunities for professional development, training programs, and mentorship to empower teams to reach their full potential. A knowledgeable and skilled workforce not only enhances productivity but also contributes to the long-term success of the business.
Collaboration and Mentorship
- Black small business owners can further strengthen their impact by fostering collaboration and mentorship within their communities. Sharing experiences, insights, and resources can create a supportive ecosystem where businesses can learn from one another and collectively overcome challenges. Though we may offer similar services or products, we have to see each other as a community and not competitors.
Black small businesses are not just contributors to the economy; they are engines of economic development, resilience, and innovation. As business owners, let us commit to continuous learning, adaptation to change, and fostering a culture of growth within our enterprises. By doing so, we not only ensure the success of our businesses but also contribute to the broader goals of economic empowerment, diversity, and inclusion.
Together, let us build a future where Black small businesses thrive, driving positive change in our communities and leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come. I encourage you to join our next “Grow Together”small business session[insert link] with Google’s digital coaches and gain the skills to grow your business.
Garry Anthony Johnson
Founder + CEO, Paradise Express Ferry & Harlem Rocket
Chair, Economic Development for NAACP NY
LONG ISLAND, NY – On Thursday, October 9, the NAACP New York State Conference (NAACP-NYS)
kicked off its 89th Annual State Convention, Rooted to Rise: Building Power Across New York. The state’s
premiere Black policy convention is focused on the tools, bold strategies, and tactical training needed
for branches to enact change in their communities.
The weekend started with a black policy roundtable discussion, featuring tens of electeds - including,
but not limited to: Assemblywoman Latrice Walker, Senator Monica Martinez, Senator Leroy Comrie,
Senator Byonoe, Suffolk County Legislator Minority Leader Richberg, Assemblymember Chuck Lavine,
Assemblymember Kwani O’Pharrow, and Assemblymember Noah Burroughs.
NAACP New York State Conference President L. Joy Williams began her remarks by noting, “For too
long, when we’ve gathered as Black leaders, advocates, and legislators, the conversation has always
starts with deficiencies. What we lack. What’s been taken. What we must fight to keep. And while we
know those realities are true, they cannot be the limits of our political imagination. We have
unprecedented representation across this state - from city halls to the legislature, to county offices and
advocacy tables. That representation is not a trophy. It’s a tool. Because when Black people thrive, New
York thrives.”
Williams was joined by:
● New York State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes
● Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA)
● Arva Rice, President & CEO of the New York Urban League (NYUL)
● Lurie Daniel Favors, Executive Director at the Center for Law and Social Justice (CLSJ)
● Kassandra Frederique, Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA)
The distinction between affordability and economic security was a key topic of the roundtable.
“Affordability is setting the bar too low,” said Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO of the Federation of
Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA). “When we say to our electeds, we just want affordability. We’re
selling ourselves short. We need economic security. Economic security is meeting your basic needs and
planning and saving for tomorrow. Planning for your retirement. Saving and planning for your children to
go to college or vocational school. Those who are thriving in America live with economic security. We
keep asking for just enough. And the system is set up so we keep asking for just enough.”
The conversation shifted to power - and the ability to bring power back to black people.
Arva Rice, President & CEO of the New York Urban League (NYUL) noted that, “the bringing together of
leaders from different organizations is how we get and build our power. We are coming together to
agree on what the plan is and how we can lead together - united. The Urban League and the NAACP New
York State Conference can be conveners and thought leaders, driving policy and advocacy at all levels.”
Education acted as a thruline to the conversation around power. Lurie Daniel Favors, Executive Director
at the Center for Law and Social Justice (CLSJ) said that, “We currently approach education in a way
that requires you to codeswitch, giving you opportunities that others do not get. You were able to tap
into a skillset that opens up a pathway. When we talk about education, we have to ask ourselves: For
what purpose? To what end does black education need to serve? We have legislators who have decided
to take things away from our children - take food away from our children. We have to consider that we
look at this as a moment of opportunity to clear the path and make demands of the education system.”
Kassandra Frederique, Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) said, “I was asked to offer a
truer vision of public safety, one that offers lesser reliance on the punitive systems that have been forced
upon our communities. I'd like to move from a concept of less punitive systems to more systems of
safety, because oftentimes when we talk to black people about criminal legal justice we talk about less -
when we need to be talking about more. It's about more of the things that we know can keep us safe.
Research proves that more programming and more connection leads to less disruption - and less
disruption means less harm. The mainstream only talks about justice and safety, which is focused around
technologies to surveil and profile black communities. My definition of safety is one that creates more
opportunities for connection in our communities.”
New York State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes was asked about what it takes to win
- responding that, “it takes collaboration. If you’re not saying the same thing at the same time, no one is
listening. People have to continue to be in advocacy mode. You need to ensure that policies that you
pushed for continue to work for you. The most important and valuable thing that we can be doing in this
state is building economic security. Communities need to build in and invest in things that benefit our
children - like food and housing. There will never be justice in society for us until we demand it. It must be
done by us.”
To start the question and answer portion of the roundtable, Executive Director Chris Alexander asked
those in attendance to orient their questions around an overarching theme of a singular investment for
this upcoming state budget. When originally asked, members responded that health, education, and
housing were their top priorities.
Other topics raised were:
● Criminal justice
● Taxes
● Child well being
● Youth community centers
● Medicaid and Medicare cuts
The topics raised at the roundtable conversation are going to have a direct impact on the NAACP New
York State Conference’s agenda for the upcoming 2026 legislative session.
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